James Eugene Johns

PFC James Johns served with Easy Company, 2nd Marines during the battle of Tarawa. On 20 November 1943, his battalion was tasked with spearheading the assault on a stretch of sand called Beach Red Two. Easy Company was to land on the western half of the beach, but on the way to shore their LVTs were subjected to withering fire from the Japanese defenses, and the unit’s organization disintegrated. Casualties were extremely heavy; of 165 Easy Company men who went into action, 62 were killed and scores more were wounded over the course of the battle.

Easy’s Second Platoon, led by 2Lt. Donald R. Dahlgren, was thrown off course during the landing and wound up on the eastern edge of Beach Red One. The LVT carrying PFC Johns and others managed to reach the shore but was immediately targeted by the defenders. According to researcher Tom Godwin, the tractor crew died at their posts and every man in the passenger bay was killed or wounded. A Marine managed to back the vehicle off the beach and into the water before the engine died. Later that day, the survivors managed to exit the LVT and make their own way to shore.

Eighteen-year-old James Johns was reported as missing in action following the debacle of 20 November; when no further word of his whereabouts was received, his status was changed to killed in action as of that date.